Police Association 'Deeply Concerned' About Jenkintown Layoffs

CHELTENHAM TOWNSHIP, PA —The Cheltenham Township Police Association has issued a letter regarding reports of potential layoffs in the Jenkintown Police Department.

CTPA President Michael D. Moore said the association is "deeply concerned about the threat of laying off police officers from your department."

Moore said that relying on other departments to provide sufficient support to complete the mission of the Jenkintown Police Department "seems either short-sighted, overzealous, or both."

The PA DCED team presented its Cost to Benefit report findings to the Jenkintown Borough Council and the borough community on Nov. 13.

Under the DCED model, the four patrol FTEs would provide for only single patrol coverage at all times and, further, would only cover 313 days per year, leaving no patrol coverage 52 days of the year or almost two (2) months per year.

A citizens group is questioning a DCED presentation regarding the Jenkintown Police Department's costs about an analysis of whether the force is worth keeping.

Jenkintown Matters —a non-partisan resident research group concerned with the future viability and independence of the borough —said that findings of a report presented to the public last week by the Department of Community & Economic Development appear to have used a staffing model based only on activity levels and not coverage requirements.

Moore said the Cheltenham Township Police Department is working to bring its staffing levels up to full complement to best serve Cheltenham Township residents.

"The additional responsibility of providing both routine and habitual support to another municipality takes away from the needs of our residents," Moore said.

He said the CTPA supports the Jenkintown PBA in finding an amicable and mutually agreed solution to the challenges facing Jenkintown Borough.